Thursday, 26 April 2018

Sefire Treaty

Thompson, J. A., The Ancient Near Eastern Treaties and the Old
TestamentLondon: Tyndale, 1964.

- [10] … there is extant in three recensions an important Aramaic treaty between

Mati’ilu of Arpad and Bar-ga’ayah of KTK, discovered near the market town of
Sefiré, south-east of Aleppo, by some local tribe-people. The treaty dates to the
middle of the eighth century B.C.

- Some Characteristics of the Near Eastern treaties

- [10] Two broad classes:


parity treaties: two treaties in opposite directions in which two kings of more or
less equal importance bound each other to identical obligations.

suzerain treaties: imposed by powerful kings on their vassals. An inferior ruler was
bound to obey stipulations imposed on him by his suzerain.

- [10-11] It is the typical suzerain-vassal relationship with bears a closer

resemblance to the relationship which existed between YHWH and His people
Israel.

- [11] Primary purpose of all suzerain treaties: to secure the interest of the great
king and to guarantee the allegiance and the economic and military support of the
vassal… Presumably it was open for any vassal to reject the proposal in dire
consequences. The case was somewhat different with the Assyrians who held out
no such promises but depended on intimidation and threat of divine visitations
with curses in case of infidelity.